Ermelo court sentences man to life for raping 12-year-old niece

The Ermelo Regional Court recently convicted and sentenced a 26-year-old man to life imprisonment for raping his 12-year-old niece.

He pleaded guilty to the crime and was subsequently convicted of rape.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority’s regional spokesperson, Monica Nyuswa, in May last year, the accused visited his sister in Ermelo, Mpumalanga, where she lives with the victim.

“Late at night, he went out with his friends, and he came back drunk. He slept in the kitchen where two of his nieces were sleeping and started touching the victim, undressing and raping her.

“The matter was reported to the police and the victim was taken to Ermelo Thuthuzela Care Centre for medical attention and psychosocial support. The accused pleaded guilty and admitted that his actions were wrong,” she said.

In aggravation of sentence, State Prosecutor Chané Rothman presented a victim impact statement facilitated by the court preparation officer, Faith Masango, in which the victim stated that she feels sad and ashamed because of what happened to her. She said she no longer feels comfortable playing with other kids because they say mean things to her.

“Rothman emphasised the devastating impact it had on the young victim, stating that the victim’s trust was betrayed by someone who was supposed to protect her. Instead, he took advantage of her innocence and subjected her to horrific sexual violence.”

Magistrate Eben Jonker remarked that the convicted had robbed the victim of her childhood, and he found no substantial and compelling circumstances justifying deviation from the prescribed sentence.

The court sentenced the convicted to life imprisonment, and declared him unfit to possess a firearm and unsuitable to work with children. It further ordered that his name be registered on the National Register for Sex Offenders.